Ezra k gifford



(No Model.)

E. N. GIPPORD.

PENHOLDER.

Patented June 28,1892.

UNITED STATES APATENTv OFFICE.

EZRA N. GIFFORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEWIS W. PITCHER, 'OF SAME PLACE.

PENHOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,073, dated June 28, 1892.v Application led March 2l, 1892. Serial No. 425,853. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, EZRA N. GIFFORD, a citizen of the United States, residingat Chicago,

j in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Penholders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a class of penholders that are provided with -a stem and a sliding sleeve, between which stem and sliding sleeve the pen is held and made to eject therefrom by sliding the sleeve relatively to the said stem, so that the pen will not be held between such parts.

The invention relates more particularly to pens of this class in which there is a rearwardly-sliding sleeve, the object being to provide certain improvements in this class of penholders, combining simplicity and durability of construction with efficiency of operation.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

The accompanying drawing, illustrating my invention, is a view, partly in elevation and in central longitudinal section, of a penholder constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to said drawing, A indicates the handle of the penholder, B the stem, and C the longitudinally-sliding sleeve. The said sleeve C is located around the stem B and is adapted to slide back and forth thereon. The

said sleeve C is provided between its endsv with an inward projection or annular rib l, that is located around the reduced cylindric rear end portion 2 of the stem. The said rear end portion 2 of the stem is screw-threaded at its end vand engages the interior screwthreaded end of the'handle A, as clearly shown in said drawing, the forward end of the handle A thereby providing a forwardly-facing shoulder 3 at the rear end of said reduced cylindric portion 2 of the stein. At the forward end of said oylindric portion 2 the stem is enlarged to provide an annular shoulder 4, and

these two shoulders 3 and4 at the opposite ends of the cylindric portion 2 of' the stem form stops, against which the projection or annular rib 1 on the interior face of the sleeve strikes when the said sleeve is moved to the forward or backward limit of its movement. The coil spring 5 encircles the contracted portion 2 of the kstem and presses at its opposite ends against the shoulder 3 and the annular rib l In front of the cylindric portion'2 of the stem the latter is provided with an enlarged cylindric guide 6, formed by the shoulder 4. This guide fits snugly within the sleeve in front of the annular rib l thereon and serves also to steady the sleeve in its sliding movement. In front of the guide 6 the stem is again reduced to permit the passage of the pen between said stem and vsleeve C, andthe forward end of the stem is slotted, as shown at 7, which is the usual construction'in penholders of this class, to permit the forward end of the stern to contract when the pen is inserted therein. I have provided, however, means to attain additional flexibility of that part of the stem against which the pen rests by making the rear end portion thereof reduced in cross area, as shown at 8, whereby the forward end of the stem will bend more easily than otherwise, so that when a pen is forced between the stem and the sleeve such sleeve will bend sufficiently to permit its insertion, but will possess enough iiexibility or elasticity to hold the penrigidly in position'between said stem and the surrounding sleeve. In the rear of the reduced portion 8 of the stem I have also provided a seat 9, upon which the rear end of the pen rests, whereby the penis held yparallel with the longitudinal axis of the penholder. In the rear of said seatashoulder 10 is formed by reason of the enlarged guide 6` of the stem and this shoulder forms an abut- IOO ment for the rear end of the pen and serves the' double `purpose of preventing the pen from being pushed too far into the penholder and also prevents said pen from moving backward when the sleeve is retracted to eject the pen. As a further and separate improvement, the said shoulder 10 is arranged at an incline with relation to the longitudinal axis of the penholder, as shown in said drawing, to accommodate the penholder to pens of different lengths,it being noted that a short pen should be inserted in the side of the penholder adjacent the highest point of the inclined shoulder IO. f

I am aware that it is not new to provide a penholder with a rearwardly-sliding sleeve, so that when said sleeve is moved backwardly upon the same the pen, which is held between said sleeve and stem, will be uncovered and therefore at liberty to drop from the stem, as penholders of this construction have heretofore been made, but have possessed certain objectionable features that it is the obj ect of this invention to overcome. I't will be noted that the penholder is of necessity simple in construction and consists of four pieces, the handle A, stein B, sleeve C, and spring 5, although it will be understood that said spring can be omitted.

In constructing the penholder the sleeve C is first slipped upon the rear end of the stem B and then the rear end of the stem is screwed into the forward end of the handle A. The penholder is then ready for use. It will be noted that I avoid all slot or pin connection between the sleeve and stem and that the sleeve can be freely rotated upon the stem and that I also avoid all weak parts, and thereby prolong the life of the penholders of this kind. It will be noted that by making the sleeve to freelyrotate upon the stem when a pen is to be removed that has corroded or become lodged between said stem and sleeve by giving the said sleeve a partial rotation the pen will be easily loosened. The spring 5, it will be noted, serves to hold the sleeve at the forward limit of its movement, so that after the pen has been ejected by moving the sleeve to the rear the latter will return of its own accord to its normal position. I also avoid the necessity of arranging any special means of construction to limit the rearward movement of the sleeve as the forward end of the handle provides a shoulder that accomplishes this end.

. ward movement on the part of the pen, so

that when the forward end of the sleeve ar- Maeva rives at said shoulder the pen will easily drop Off of thestem. Y The inclination givento said shoulder 10 also increases the capacity of penholder, as it adapts the penholders for use with pens of different lengths, as heretofore described, so that pens of different lengths can be pushed back to the shoulder and will project sufficiently beyond the end of the stem and sleeve for ordinary purposes.

I claim as my invention l. A penholder having a stern provided with an inclined forwardly-facing shoulder near its forward end and a longitudinally-sliding sleeve upon said stem.

2. A penholder having a stem reduced near its forward end portion, as at 8, a seat 9,10- cated in the rear of said reduced portion 8, and a longitudinally-sliding sleeve upon said stem.

3. A penholder having a stern reduced near its forward end portion, as at 8, a seat 9, located in the rear of said reduced portion, a forwardly-facing shoulder 10 in the rear of said seat, and a longitudinally-sliding sleeve upon said stem.

4. A penholder having a stem reduced near its forward end portion, as at 8, a seat 9, located in the rear of said reduced portion, an inclined forwardly-facing shoulder IO in the rear of said seat, and alongitudinally-sliding sleeve upon said stem.

5. A penholder consisting of a handle A, secured at its forward end to a stem B, which is of less diameter than the forward end of said handle and thereby providing a forwardly-facing stop 3, a longitudinally-slidin g sleeve C upon said stem, said sleeve being about the same length as said stem, an interior projection 1 on said sleeve, a spring located between said stop 3 and projection 1, and a rearwardly-facing stop 4 upon said stem, located practically as described to engage said projection 1 to hold the rear end of said sleeve slightly overlapping the forward end of said handle, whereby the greater portion of the handle will be exposed, substantially as described.

6. A penholder consisting of a handle A, secured at its forward end to a stem B, which is of less diameter than the forward end of said handle and thereby providing a forwardly-facing stop 3 and a guide for said sleeve, a longitudinally-sliding sleeve C upon said stem, said sleeve being about the same length as said stem, an interior projection l on said sleeve, a spring located between said stop 3 and projection l, and an enlargement near the forward end of said stem, forming a rearwardly-facing stop 4, a forwardly-facing shoulder 10, and a gnide for said sleeve, said rearwardly-facing stop being located practically as described to engage said projection y 1 to hold the rear end of said sleeve slightly overlapping the forward end of said handle, whereby the greater portion of the handle will be exposed, substantially as described.

7. A penholder consisting of a handle A,

IOO

IIO

secured at its -forward end to a stem B, which slightly overlappingthe forward end ofk said is of less diameter than the forward vend of' handle,'wherebythe greater 'portion of the said handle and thereby providing a-forhandle will be exposed, substantially as del wardly-facin g stop 3,a longitudinally-sliding scribed.

5 sleeve C upon said stem, said sleeve being In testimony whereof Iafx mysignature in I5 abontthe same length as Said stem, an intepresence of two Witnesses.

rior projection l on said sleeve, and a rearlEZRA N. GIFFORD'. wardly-facing stop 4 upon said stem, located Witnesses: practically as described to engage said pro- HARRY COBB KENNEDY,

1o jection 1 to hold the :rear end of said sleeve RUDOLPH NILOTZ. 

